A number of online events for young people

The lockdown presents significant challenges for the activities of youth clubs, and new guidelines were introduced on how to conduct their work. Stella Björg Kristinsdóttir, manager of leisure activities for the City of Hafnarfjörður, says that the department heads and assistant managers of the youth clubs, the project manager of the Youth House, and the staff of the youth clubs have shown incredible imagination in finding solutions for the town's young people and deserve a great deal of praise.

The local paper Hafnfirðingur chatted with Stella.

^{Activity bingo was among the things the young people took part in.}

Stella has been following solutions and ways to stay in touch with young people during these times, and says she herself is constantly learning something new. „The challenge is to maintain good relationships with the young people, but online, e.g.e.g. events, and to create opportunities to talk with youth centre staff and to continue to be present, but it is also important to offer both activities and support. Also, to point out ways forward if anything goes wrong.“ Stella gives the example that if a young person only wants to speak to a specific member of staff, they put that person's name in the first line of a message and only read that message. „We are opening up the discussion of difficult emotions during lockdown with simple questions or open discussions.

Symbolism and electronic media

Fun competitions, similar to quizzes, have been created, where the children learn something along the way about the staff, their country or facts. For example, pictures of staff members are used as children or bizarre facts where one guesses the correct or incorrect answer. „It's been very funny. Then there are the emojis used on smartphones to describe film titles or songs, and a joke and short story competition which was very successful.“ says Stella proudly. In one youth club, the first online media outlet is being launched, where the kids have the opportunity to write newspaper articles alongside the youth club staff. Others have organised a logo competition for their youth club and some have created music with the kids via Instagram. Discord channels have also been opened to hold gaming nights together in a specific online space, and it is important that the young people get the opportunity to express their opinions and influence the agenda.„

Treasure hunts and activity bingo for exercise

To encourage physical activity, Stella says that scavenger hunts, activity bingo and many other good challenges that encourage movement have been organised. „Also, there have been photography competitions, for example one depicting lockdown. It was interesting to see how the young people interpreted it. Youth clubs have challenged each other, for example by taking part in an Instagram challenge to do a squat with an egg on a spoon in their mouth. Otherwise, this is just a sample of what has been on offer at the youth clubs and the Youth Centre in Hafnarfjörður. The staff have truly created a new dimension in this, and it has been amazing to see the imaginative youth centre staff, how everyone sticks together, is good with technology and shares good ideas.“ says Stella in conclusion. 

An interview with Stella was published in Hafnfirðinginn on 27 April 2020.